[Review] Fan Girl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 
Publisher: Random House (audio published by Listening Library)
Publishing Date: Sept, 2013
Format: library audio CD
10 CDs
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? Open her heart to someone? Or will she just go on living inside somebody else’s fiction?

My Review

There's been so much hype about this book, and Rainbow Rowell for that matter, that I was a little nervous to read/listen to this! I was hoping that the hype wouldn't ruin it for me and I could still enjoy it. Thankfully, I really loved this book and hype didn't ruin anything! I was also a little worried that listening to the audio version would take away from this story - it's actually always a concern of mine since I definitely prefer reading the book to listening. But nothing was taken away from the story by listening, and I'll continue to listen to audio books whenever I travel! 

I really liked Cath as a main character. I thought she was incredibly unique, quirky, and fun. Although I don't obsess over a series or create fan-fiction like she does, I could really relate to her! When I was a freshman, I was definitely holed up in my dorm for the first couple weeks because I knew no one, but after a while, I branched out and met a bunch of really great people. But at the same time, I love being alone and reading my books; definitely the introvert part of me (: The love interest in this story was really great too. It took an unexpected turn and that's what I loved about it! Cath and guy (not naming for spoilers!) make a really great couple and I loved reading about their interactions. 

Throughout the story, we get to watch Cath grow and become more open. In the beginning, she's reserved, quit, doesn't like to meet new people or do new things. But as the story progresses, she really opens up and becomes more confident in herself. As much as I didn't care for Wren in the beginning, I liked her towards the end.  I think she's one of the reasons Cath was able to grow so much more and become more independent. In the beginning, I couldn't stand Wren because she completely pushed Cath away and seemed to want to get rid of her. But  not having Wren at her side for everything helped Cath in the long run. 

One thing that I didn't really like were the Simon Snow excerpts. I just felt like the story would have been just as great without them, plus I had a hard time following along with what was happening in that story since we only had small excerpts. Don't get me wrong, I loved having the Simon Snow obsession and fan-fiction in the story, I just don't feel the excerpts were completely necessary. Overall, though, I really loved this book and can't wait to read more by Rowell!